Young footballers get the chance to pursue dreams

Two young footballers from Siyadlala Football Academy (SFA) in Mbombela, have been given the opportunity of a lifetime.

Talent Masuku, a pupil from Lowveld High and Mzwandile Thabete from Penryn College, were selected to join a group of boys drawn from around the world, to go on trial at the University of Rhode Island in the United States.

The purpose of this trip is to give the boys the opportunity to showcase their football talent, with the hope of being awarded school or university scholarships.

The group left for the USA on April 10.

Both youngsters started training with SFA in January 2011 when they were still in primary school.

For the last five years they have attended training sessions three times a week and played Saturday matches for the academy, gaining invaluable experience and growing into strong, talented players.

Their hard work and dedication has paid off, as they have now been given this opportunity to chase their dreams abroad.

“This opportunity is one which SFA plans to offer on an annual basis to players who meet the academic and football requirements.

The aim is to send more than two players a year, but this will be dependent on available funds.

Unfortunately this year potential funders were approached after their budgets were already allocated, but some of them, including the Department of Sports and Recreation, have indicated that they were interested in supporting the programme in future.

“We would like to thank Mbombela Local Municipality for their continuous support that has been given to the academy right from its inception,” said the academy’s chairperson, Sarah Ratnarajah.

SFA training is conducted on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at the Valencia Sports Complex and games are hosted on Saturdays.

For more information contact SFA on 082-698-8670 or 082-444-4748 or email siyadlalafootball@gmail.com.

Facebook page: Siyadlala Football Academy.